Confession of sins

I was reading my Bible and I came across Lk 7:36-48 (Jesus’ feet are anointed by a sinful woman). The story helped me understand that Jesus will forgive my sins, no matter how bad they are, if we really repent and if we want to change for the better. However, if God forgives all our sins, why do we even need to go for confession? Why should I go to a priest to confess when I can confess to God directly?

That’s a good question, which many people may have, but dare not ask. Your asking is a sign of trying to understand your faith and tradition. That’s good! There are several reasons for the need to confess our sins regularly.

Firstly, the priest is a representative of God in the community of believers. In the Church, many rituals are done with an appointed mediator. In Matthew’s gospel, God empowered St Peter, our first pope – he was just a man – to forgive sins. Jesus said to him, “I will give you the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven. Whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven” (16:19). In Jn 20:23, Jesus is more explicit: “If you forgive anyone his sins, they are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven”.

Next, we need to understand that God does not need our confession; we do. Whenever we commit a sin, our first response should be to appeal to God for mercy and forgiveness, not because He doesn’t already know. He’s God! God is omnipresent - this means He is everywhere. Whether we confess within ourselves or to a priest, we are not telling Him anything that He doesn’t already know. Rather, we are acknowledging our own sin and taking responsibility for our actions. We are the ones who need to confess. Sometimes we do something terrible and don’t realise how bad it is until we voice it out. That’s human. Confession serves as a reminder of our weakness, and helps us see a need to change. God’s gift of the forgiveness of sins is tailored to meet our needs.

Thirdly, we need to shame the devil that lives in us. The Lord spoke through Isaiah: “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways” (55:8), and again through Jeremiah: “The [human] heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure...” (17:9).

While God created us perfect and pure, in His image and likeness, original sin has made sin a big part of our human nature – it has become our inclination, to sin (CCC#405). That’s why it’s dangerous to follow what the world encourages: “Be yourself. Don’t care what people think.” We don’t, in fact, belong to ourselves. Jesus came to us, gave His life up to redeem ours. We were purchased by His body and blood, and thus belong to Him. We must stop doing what we think is right and start doing what God thinks is right.

It might be worth noticing we don’t usually question the need for priests for Baptism, Confirmation, the Eucharist, Matrimony, Holy Orders, or even the Anointing of the Sick? But we seem to be extra cautious over the need for a human mediator in the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Why? Because it hurts our pride! Understandably, confessing our sins to another human being is difficult, and often embarrassing. Part of the power of sacramental reconciliation is that it makes us shame the evil one (provided we confess honestly). More importantly, regular confession keeps us humble before God.

Lastly, we can take consolation in the fact that confession frees us from the slavery of sin. “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just, and will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 Jn 1:9). Can you begin to see the beauty in the idea of confession? Confession is a gift; it helps us become aware of our failures as humans, and plays a vital role in freeing us from the trap of sin. Confession is done for our good, not for God’s good! When you go for your next confession, be 100% honest. Confess wholeheartedly and be truly remorseful for your sins. You will come out feeling a load lighter, and ready to love the Lord fully again!

- Updated 8 Apr 2007

References:

• CCC#405: "Although it is proper to each individual, original sin does not have the character of a personal fault in any of Adam's descendants. It is a deprivation of original holiness and justice, but human nature has not been totally corrupted: it is wounded in the natural powers proper to it, subject to ignorance, suffering and the dominion of death, and inclined to sin - an inclination to evil that is called concupiscence". Baptism, by imparting the life of Christ's grace, erases original sin and turns a man back towards God, but the consequences for nature, weakened and inclined to evil, persist in man and summon him to spiritual battle."